van dee talk



{No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. 0. 0. vm mm mm. ELEGTRICALLY OPERATEDRAILWAY BARRIER.

No. 586,578. Patented July 20, 1897.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. G, VAN DER VALK.

BLEGTRICALLY OPERATED RAILWAY BARRIER. No. 586,578. Patented July20,1897.

UNrTnn STATES CHRISTIAEM CORNELIUS VAN DER VALK, OF I-IAARLEM,NETHERLANDS PATENT I Trice.

ASSIGNOR TO THE SYNDICAAT TOT EXPLOITATIE DER PATENTEN O. C. VAN DERVALK, OF THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS.

ELECTRICALLY-OPERATED RAI LWAY-BARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,578, dated July 20,1897.

Application filed September 10, 1896. Serial No. 605,377. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAEM CORNELIUS VAN DER VALK, a subject of theQueen of the Netherlands, residing at Haarlem, Netherlands, haveinvented an improvement relating to apparatus for automatically closingand opening by electrical agency the barriers of railway-levelcrossings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for automatically opening andclosing the barriers or gates of railway-level crossings by means ofelectrical energy wherein such opening and closing is effected by theapproaching and passing trains in such manner that the train onapproaching the barrier effects the open in g or closing of anelectrical contact, whereby an electric circuit is broken or closed. Bythis means gearing is set in motion which closes the circuit of aworking current that actuates an electromotor in such manner as to causethis to gradually close the barrier. lVhen the barrier is closed, themotion of the electromotor is stopped by the breaking of itssupply-circuit again. On the train passing beyond the barrier a secondcontact is opened or closed by the train, whereby the said gearing isagain set in motion, producing a working current which actuates the sameelectromotor, but in the contrary direction, so as thereby to open thebarrier again. iVhen the barrier is opened, the electromotor is againbrought to a standstill by the breaking of its working circuit. At thecommencement of the closing of the circuit an audible signal is at thesame time actuated by an electric current, and also a visible signal isturned by mechanical means from a direction at right angles to the lineof rails to a direction parallel thereto.

The invention also serves in particular for the purpose of insuringwhen, in the case of a railway with two or more lines of rail, twotrains approach or pass away from a crossing in opposite directions,that the opening and closing of the barrier shall only be effectedaccording to predetermined rules.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section. Fig. 2 is an elevationshowing in the left and central portions the mechanism employed toeffect the movements of the barrier and in the right-hand portion, on amuch smaller scale, a locomotive moving on the track and operating therequisite electric contact by depressing the track slightly by itsweight, the track being intentionally elastic to allow of such slightmotions. Fig. 2 is an elevation showing certain parts viewed at rightangles to the View in Fig. 2; and Fig. 3 is an elevation showing in theleft and central portions the mechanism for a double-track railroad andin the right-hand portion, on a much smaller scale, two tracks and twolocomotives moving in opposite directions thereon and each making theproper electrical connections by its gravity depressing the properlyelastic track.

Similar letters and n unlerals of reference indicate corresponding partsin Figs. 1, 2, and 2.

I will first describe the invention with reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 2.In these figures the barrier-beam a is actuated by toothed gearing orbarrier-train c, the motive force for this purpose being supplied by theelectromotor (Z. Over the barrier-beam is arranged a box I), in whichare contained the actual electromagnetic working parts. Over this box isarranged the electrical signal-bell c. This barrienbcam a is shown inthe closed position, and the optical signal f is parallel to the line ofrails, as a caution-signal to the persons desirous of crossing. It istherefore not visible to the driver of the train, who consequentlyunderstands from this that the barrier is closed.

The internal arrangement of the working box Z7 is shown, byway ofexample, for a single-line railway at Figs. 2 and 2, in larger size.Fig. 2 also shows, diagrammatically, the position of the electromotor dfor the two barrier-beams a a and of the signal-bell e. l urthermore,adiagram viewof the approach ing train 72. is shown, on a much smallerscale, which at the same time will open the contact f by its weight, foreffecting the closing of the barrier-beam,and will afterward pass overthe contact g, by means of which the commencement of the opening of thebarrier-beam is started. There are also shown, diagrammatically, thecurrent-generator i, by which approaching train 71, and the currentpassing the wheel mechanism on the box I) is actuated, the generator 7c,by which the signal-bell is sounded, and the generator Z, by means ofwhich the electromotor is driven.

On an axis that can be mounted on the back wall of the box I) is abarrel m, containing a spring. (Not shown on the drawings.) This springactuates the wheel mechanism that drives the vane 12. The spring iswound up by the up-and-down motion of the barrierbeam a. The mode oftransmitting this motion is not shown, as it maybe effected in anyordinary or known manner. A simple arrangement consists in providing thearbor of the drum with an escapemen t-wheel designed to be positivelyrotated by an escapementlever actuated by an armature vibrated by anelectromagnetic make-and-break device included in the main or workingcircuit.

On the barrel m are two projections 0 and p, which on the rotation ofthe drum. strike against the inner ends of the two conductingdouble-ended levers, q and g, which are carried by a conducting-holderr. On the axis of the barrel m is a cam-disk 8, near the back wall ofthe box, which cam has two drops 8 and 8 On this cam-disk bears avertical rod 2, guided by brackets, on the back wall of the box andplaced parallel thereto, which can strike with its upper end against theonearmed lever to when by the rotation of the disk .9 it is raised outof a drop 8 or s on the periphery thereof. This lever M has at its frontend a downwardly-projecting beak u, by means of which it can stop therotation of the vane or flier n as soon as the rod 15 falls into one ofthe drops 8 or 8 Over the outer ends of the horizontal double-endedlevers q q, as also over the outer end of the one-armed lever to, aresituated gentle contact springs, which are respectivelymarked t, o, andc To the right and tothe left of the barrel m, near the side walls ofthe boX, Fig. 2, are vertical two-armed levers w w, mounted on centralpivots and provided at their lower ends with beaks a; and w, on whichrest the outer ends of the twoarmed levers q and q as soon as the innerends thereof have been pressed down by the projections 0 and p.

The upper ends of the upright two-armed levers w and to carry armatures,so that they can be attracted by the electromagnets y and y, and theone-armed lever 16 also has an armature to be acted upon by theelectromagnet 3 The action of the appartus is as follows: The electriccurrent of the generator t' passes through the line 1 2 to theelectromagnet 1 This holds the lever u in position against theretracting force of the spring ,2, so that its beak it stops the vane orflier 07., whereby the wheels gearing with the barrel m are stopped. Thecontact f which, for example, is one thousand yards or more in front ofthe barrier-beam, is opened by the weight of the to the electromagnet gis broken, so that the lever to is no longer attracted, but is drawnaway from the electromagnet by the spring ,2, and will consequentlyliberate the flier 'n from its beak u and the spring of the barrel mwill come into action. In consequence thereof the disk 3, Fig. 2, isrotated and lifts the rod 2! out of the drop 8, and by means thereof itpresses the lever it against the contact-spring '0 v The electriccurrent which passes through these parts and the line 1 3 to thegenerator is thus closed and the signal-bell e is sounded.

The vane or fliern is so regulated that the barrel on performs arevolution in the time required.

When the barrel on has made about half a revolution, the projection 0presses the inner end of the double-ended lever q downward, so that itsouter end moves up past the beak a: to become engaged thereby and be atthe same time pressed against the contact-spring c to close the maincircuit supplied by the generator Z, the current of which passes throughthe line 1 4 to the electromotor d (see Fig. 1) and rotates thisactively in the direction of the arrow, whereby the barrier is closed bymeans of the toothed gear 0, Fig. 1. For the sake of simplicity themotor din Fig. 2 is not represented in juxtaposition to the barrier.

On its descent the barrier-beam, shortly before it reaches its lowestposition, touches a contact 2, (see Fig. 2,) and thereby closes a branchcircuit of the generator Z, the current of which passes through the line1 6 to electromagnet y, which attract-s the upright twoarmed lever w,thereby releasing the lever q and breaking contact with the spring c andstopping the motion of the electromotor cl. During this time the barrelm will have made three-fou rths of a revolution and the rod 25 fallsinto the drop 3 so that the electromagnet y can again attract thearmature a. By this means the vane or flier n will be stopped, andconsequently also the wheels of the barrel m, and at the same time thesignal-bell will be stopped, as the contact 12 is broken.

The barrier-beam is now stationary and the train h passes over thecrossing and approaches the contact g, which may be situated about threehundred yards or more beyond the barrier.

After the train has passed and opened the contact g the current passingto electromagnet 1 is again interrupted, permitting the armature 'u tobe again retracted by spring in the manner described above, and thetoothed gear and barrel m is again set in motion. The projection 13 onthe drum on presses down the inner end of lever q, so that its outer endrises past the beak 00 to become engaged therewith and is at the sametime pressed against the contact-spring o. By this means the current ofthe generator 1, which passes through the line 1 5 to the sameelectromotor (1, but in the direction opposite to the first, is closedand the latter is rotated in the contrary direction to that firstdescribed, whereby the barrier at is raised into the open position bymeans of the gearing c, Fig. 1. In rising the barrier-beam touches asecond contact .2 which closes the branch circuit through 1 to theelectromagnet 3 thereby attracting the lever w. The lever q is thusreleased and turns, breaking the circuit through 1 5, and the motion ofthe electromotor (Z is again stopped. During this time the barrelcompletes the last quarter of its revolution and the rod falls into thedrop 5-, whereupon the armature u can again approach the electromagnet 3and the beak u will stop the flier it, thus putting the apparatus inreadiness for the next following train.

In Fig. 3 is shown an arrangement for adapting the said apparatus forseveral lines of rail, the apparatus being so arranged that in case oftwo trains passing each other at or near a crossing the first train willclose the barrier, but cannot open it again, such opening being onlyeffected by the second train after it has also passed the crossing. I11this arrangement the box with the working gear contains three sets ofwheelwork A, A, and A which in the example shown are actuated by workingcurrents, of which A and A serve to effect the circuit connections, thecurrents of which serve to effect the opening and closing of thebarriers, while the mechanism A serves to change the direction ofcurrent when required. Between the sets of wheels A and A are two smalltumbler-levers B and B, the pins 0 C and O C" of which are adapted todip either into the mercury-cups D D or into the cups D D, as will beexplained. Furthermore, the vanes or fliers E E E of the said threewheel mechanisms are stopped by the beaks F F F of the levers G G G inthe same manner as described with reference to Fig. 2. These armaturesare attracted by the three electromagnets II I1 H The two-armed levers LL, mounted on brackets K K below the barrels J J of the wheel mechanismsA A, are, when their inner ends are depressed, brought into contact withthe contact-springs M M and are held by the lower beaks of thevertically-s11spended levers N N, the armatures of which may beattracted by the electromagnets N 1.

The armature G of electromagnet II has above it a contact-spring O. Thearmatures G G have no contact-springs. These armatures G G G are raisedby rods P I I by the action of cam-disks Q Q which are fixed on the endsof the barrels of the wheel mechanisms A A A the rod falling into dropson the said camdisks, as described with reference to the firstarrangement.

The inner end of the two-armed lever L is pressed down only by a singletappet R on the corresponding barrel, but the inner arm of the two-armedlever L on the other side is consecutively pressed down by four tappetsR. down on the left side by only a single tappet S on the drumcorresponding to the lever L, while on the other side the inner end ofthe lever L is pressed down by four tappets S on the corresponding drum.

Between the lower wheel mechanisms A A is mounted an electromagnet T,the armature T of which is connected bya rod T with the tumbler B. Thistumbler is provided with a pin T against which the four pins U of thebarrel of the wheel mechanism A strike consecutively for pushing back:the tumbler B into the position shown on the drawings, if it has beenpreviously drawn by red T so as to immerse the pin 0 in the mercury-cupD The train of cars represented by the engine V that arrives first bymeans of the flexibility of the line of rail presses the contact V downand at a later period reaches the contact V In case the train IV, movingon the other track in the opposite direction, arrives later it firstdepresses contact \Vand then contactW The barriers \V W on each side ofthe line of rails can be connected by chains or other means, so thatonly a single apparatus 011 one side for opening and closing isrequired, and only on one side are provided two contacts X X by means ofwhich branch circuits are closed on the opening or closing of thebarrier, the currents of which effect the stopping of the electromotorY.

The generator Z effects the closing and opening of the barrier Thegenerator Z causes the signal-bell Z to be sounded, as described withrelation to Fig. 2.

The optical signal and the winding up of the springs of the barrels areeffected through the generator Z by suitable mechanism. (Not shown.)

The mode of operation is as follows for the train arriving in thedirection of the engine V: As soon as the train depresses the contact Vthe current from generator Z is closed, which passes through the line 1to tumbler B and thence through mercury-cup D, through line 2, toelectromagnet H, and then further through line 2 back to generator Z. Bythis current the electromagnet II attracts the armature G, whose beak Fliberates the flier E, and the wheel mechanism A is set in motion by thespring of the corresponding barrel. By this means the rod P is raised bymeans of the disk Q and the armature-lever G is pressed tightly againstthe contact-spring O, which thus closes the circuit of the generator Zthe current passing through the line 1 6 to the signal-bell Z whichsounds until the barrier is closed.

As soon as the barrel J of the mechanism A begins to rotate, the tumblerB is pressed down by the tappet S, so that the pin 0 dips into themercury-cup D, while the pin 0 is withdrawn from the cup D. The objectof this change will be explained farther on. The barrel J continues torevolve and after In a similar way the tumbler B is pressed.

ICC

the lapse of a certain time, which depends upon the adjustment of thevane or flier E, the tappet R depresses the inner end of the two-armedlever L, whereby the outer end is brought into contact with thecontact-spring M, and is held in that position by the beak of the leverN. In consequence thereof the circuit of generator Z is closed, and thecurrent passes through the line 1 7 to the electromotor Y, causing thisto revolve in the direction of the lower arrow and by the proper gearingcloses the barrier. It is intended by the diagram to show a motorcapable of being revolved in opposite directions. Shortly before thebarrier reaches its lowest position a branch circuit of the generator Zis closed by contact X, the current passing through line 9 toelectromagnet N attracting armature N and passing through line 1 back togenerator Z. By the attraction of the armature-lever N the lever L isfreed and turns so that the current to the electromotor Y isinterrupted, and the latter is stopped, the barrier being now closed.When the barrel J has per formed a complete revolution, the rod P willfall into the notch of disk Q and the armature G stops the flier E bymeans of the beak F, whereby the wheel mechanism is stopped.

WVhen the train V passes beyond the crossing, it depresses a contact Vthereby closing the circuit of generator Z, the current of which passesthrough line 1 to the tumbler B, and thence through the mercury-cu p Dand line 3 to electromagnet H and through line 3 back to the generatorZ. The latter magnet H then attracts the armature G, so that v the wheelmechanism A can rotate because the beak F liberates the flier E. By therotation of barrel J the rod P is raised and the inner end of thetwo-armed lever L is pressed down by one of the four tappets B, so thatits other end is pressed tightly against the contact-spring M, therebyclosing the circuit in the generator Z, the current passing through line1 8 to the electromotor Y, and in rotating it in the ordinary directioncauses it to open the barrier. Shortly before this reaches its highestposition it touches the second contact X thereby closing a branchcircuit of generator Z through line 1 9 to electromagnet N whichattracts the armature of lever N and in releasing the lever L breaks thecircuit of the electromotor, which is thus stopped. The barrel ,1 of thewheel mechanism will have made one-fourth revolution (lurin g thisoperation,whereby one of the four tappets S will cause the pin 0 oftumbler B to dip into the mercury-cup D-that is to say, causes the pin Cto assume the position shown in Fig. 3 again. The rod P then falls intoone of the four drops of cam-disk Q and the apparatusis readyfor thenext followingtrain.

The above-described arrangement has also the effect that the train V,which has closed the barrier by means of the contact V, cannot open thesame again on passing the contact V if a second train W, passing on thesecond line in the contrary direction, acts upon the contact W. In suchcase the action is as follows: As set forth at the beginning of thedescription of Fig. 3, the barrel of the wheel mechanism A is at onceput in action when the approaching train V depresses the contact V. Thetappet S will then at once cause the pin 0 to dip into the mercury-cupD. If now the oppositely-advancing train XV should touch the contact V,the current of generator Z will be closed. The current of this circuitcannot pass through the line 1 2 to electromagnet H because the circuithas been broken by the withdrawal of pin G from the mercury-cup D. Thecurrent can, however, pass from the line 1 to tu mbler B through pin 0in mercury-cup D, and through line 4 to electromagnet T, and thencethrough the line 4 2 back to generator Z. The electromagnet T being thusexcited, the armature T is attracted and the tumbler B is reversed bymeans of the rod T whereby pin C is immersed in mercury-cup D Theadvancing train V now passes beyond the crossing to the contact V Thecurrent of generator Z must now pass through the line 1 to tumbler B,thence through mercury-cup D through line 5, to electromagnet H and thenthrough lines 5 and 3 back to the generator Z. Evidently the wheelmechanism A will not have come into action during that time because theclectromagnet H was not included in the current. Consequently thebarrier remained closed, notwithstanding that the train V passed overcontact V On the other side the armature G of the electromagnet H willhave been attracted, whereby the beak of the armature will haveliberated the flier E and the wheel mechanism A will have come intoaction, causing its barrel to make a quarterrevolution. Previously,however, the attraction of the armature T by means of the electromagnetT will have caused the upper pin .T of the tumbler B to press againstone of the four pins U of the barrel J On the further rotation of thisbarrel in the direction of the arrow one of these pins U presses theupper pin T and consequently the tumbler B, back into their originalposition, as shown. The connection with the mercury-cup D is broken andthat with the cup D is establi'shed again. The approaching train V hastherefore passed over the entire crossing and contact V without beingable to open the barrier again which it had previously closed.

Vhen at a later period the oppositely-moving train W passes over thecrossing and contact WW, the circuit will be closed through line 1 totumbler B, thence through mercury-cup D and through line 3 toelectromagnet H, and again through line 3 back to the generator Z. Theelectromagnet H attracts the armature G and vane E is liberated, causingwheel mechanism A to be set in motion, and by the depression of lever Lby tappet R the circuit of the electromotor Y is closed, so that thiseffects the opening of the barrier.

Modifications may be made without departing from the principle orsacrificing the advantages of the invention.

The wheelwork, Fig. 1, which is driven by the electromotor, can bearranged underground and be protected against the traffic by aninclosing casing.

Two or more level crossings situated at short distances from each othermay also be connected together in the same way, so that the barriers ofall can be worked by a single apparatus, in which case the electromotorneed only be slightly increased in power.

It will be obvious that instead of d rivingthe barrels of the wheelmechanisms by springs they may be driven by weights.

I claim as my invention 1. In apparatus for automatically opening andclosing the barriers of a railroad-crossin g, the combination with abarrier and its operating means, an electromotor and provision forlimiting the period of the actuation of said means, a main or workingcircuit for the latter and an auxiliary circuit controlled by arailway-train to control said main or working circuit and preliminarilyoperate a warning-signal, substantially as herein specified.

2. In apparatus for automatically opening and closing the barrier of arailway-crossing, the combination with a barrier and its operatingmeansincluding an electromotorand provision for limiting the period ofthe actuation of said means, a main or working circuit for actuatingsaid means and an auxiliary circuit controlled by a moving train tocontrol said main or working circuit and arranged to also preliminarilyoperate a signal visible to the engineer of the approaching train,substantially as herein specified.

3. In apparatus for automatically opening and closing the barriers or" arailway-crossin g, the combination with a barrier and its operatingmeans, including an electromotor and provisions for limiting the periodof the actuation of said means, amain or working circuit for actuatingsaid means and an auxiliary circuit controlled by a moving train tocontrol said main or working circuit, and arranged so as to operate avisible signal to turn the same from a position at right angles to thetrack to one parallel therewith, substantially as herein specified.

+t. In apparatus for automatically opening and closing the barrier of arailway-crossing, the combination with a barrier and gearing for raisingand lowering the same, of an electromotor for driving said gearing,contacts located at each side of the crossing, and circuit connectionswith mechanism controlling a working circuit through the electromotor,the arrangement being such that the main current will be first directedthrough the mo tor in one direction and then interrupted and thereafterautomatically directed through the motor in a reverse direction andagain interrupted, substantially as herein specified.

5. In apparatus for automatically opening and closing the barrierof arailway-crossing, the combination with a movable barrier and gearing forraising and lowering the same, of an electromotor for driving saidgearing, an independently-actuated set of gear-wheels normallyheld by anarmature-detent, an electromagnet for said detent, a track-contaet forcontrollingan auxiliary circuit inchiding said electromagnet, and aprelii'ninary signal, and acircuit-closcr operated bysaid train forclosin g a main or working circuit for the said electromotor,substantially as herein specified.

6. In apparatus for automatically opening and closing the barrier of arailway-crossing, the combination. with a barrier and gearing forraising and lowering the same, of an electromotor for driving saidgearing and iiicluded in a main or working circuit, a springactuated setof gear-wheels normally held by an armatu re detent and comprisingarotating part with projections, an electromagnet, auxiliary circuit andtrack contacts for permitting a train to successively move the detentand permit the springactuated set of wheels through its projections toclose and briefly hold closed the main or working circuit to primarilydrive the electromotor in one direction and thereafter reverse thecurrent, substantially as herein specified.

7. In apparatus for automatically opening and closing the barrier of arailway-crossing, the combination with a barrier and gearing for raisingand lowering the same, of an electromotor for driving said gearing andincluded in a main or working circuit, a springactuated set ofgear-wheels normally held by an armature-detent and comprising arotating part with projections, an electromagnet, auxiliary circuit andtrack contacts for permitting a train to successively move the detentand permit the spring-actuated set through its projections to close andbriefly hold closed the main or working circuit to primarily drive theelectromotor in one direction and thereafter reverse the current,together with circuit-closers such as .2 and .2 operated by the barrierfor breaking the main circuit at the end of the descending and ascendingmovements of the barrier, substantially as herein specified.

8. In apparatus for automatically opening and closing the barrier of arailway-crossin g, the combination with a barrier and gearing forraising and lowering the same, of an electromotor for driving saidgearing and included in a main or working circuit, a springactuatedtrain of gear-wheels normally held by an armature-detent and comprisinga rotating part with projections, an electromagnet, auxiliary circuitand track contacts for permitting a railway-train to successively movethe detent and permit the spring-actuated gearing through itsprojections to move a pair of pivoted levers to close and briefly holdclosed the main or working circuit to primarily complete the maincircuit through the motor in one direction and subsequently in theother, armature-levers such as :20 andmyl1ancl,atRotterdam,Netherlands,t11is27th 00, for holding saidcircuit-completing levers, day of July, 1896, in the presence of twosub- 1 o electromagnets and suitable circuit connecscribing Witnesses.

tions with circuit-closers such as 2 and 2 opl T T L i A erated by thebarrier to release the circuit- CHRISTIADM CORALLIUS DEF completinglevers, substantially as herein Witnesses: specified. MARGARET REQUE,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set SIGURD S. REQUE.

